Two major fire accidents on Monday at the Sriam Labs Private Limited at Bibinagar and Hetero Labs Limited in Jadcherla mandal led to a loss of about Rs. 20 crore and Rs.15 crore respectively.

According to the workers of Sriam Labs, methanol was being unloaded from a tanker when a spanner fell down on the floor sparking the fire. Other chemicals stored nearby and reactors caught fire fast and the whole factory was engulfed in flames in no time. The workers soon informed their colleagues working at different places in the company who ran to safety.

The fire department, soon after getting the information, rushed seven fire tenders to the spot which took nearly five hours to douse the flames.

Four fire tenders fought for over four hours before bringing under control the fire at the Hetero Labs Limited at Polepally SEZ in Jadcherla mandal on Monday afternoon. However, no casualties were reported. An electric short-circuit is said to be the reason behind the accident.

Fire broke out between 1.30 p.m. and 2 p.m. at unit 5 of the company, which houses packing unit, storage unit and other infrastructure. All the property in unit 5 was completely gutted. Soon after the fire broke out, all the employees working in the unit were evacuated.

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Workers carryingout repairs to Visakhapatnam District Collector's Office, as it was damaged in Cyclone Hudhud in 2014 October. The majestic heritage building was designed and built by Dutch engineering company Gannon Dunkerly in 1865 and completed by 1914. Photos: C.V. Subrahmanyam